annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Storyteller's Death is a beautifully written mystery/family saga with a distinctly Puerto Rican cultural flavor written by Ann Dávila Cardinal. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Sourcebooks on their Landmark imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
There are a lot of interesting and appealing aspects of this YA(-ish) novel. Isla is a relatable and engaging young woman. She's certainly written sympathetically, acquiring a blessing/curse of visions with the death of her grandmother when she turned 18. The prose is sublime, often poetic, and precise. The book touches on Puerto Rican culture, and MC Isla is half PRican, through her mother's family. As is, apparently, the author. She has a foot in both worlds, spending most of her life in the USA and summers with her maternal family in PR.
There's an interesting tie-in subplot. Isla's visions give her glimpses of the past, including an unresolved death from long ago. My only complaints (and they're minor) are how straightforward the action and plot development are. There are almost no missteps, no red herrings, and whenever she needs to find a piece of information, it presents itself without delay or frustration.
Four stars. This would make an excellent choice for a book club group read, and indeed the author and publisher have included numerous discussion prompts for readers' use. Also recommended for public library acquisition.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.